SUPPLIES of some Class A drugs in Accrington have been wiped out, with users claiming they have been forced to travel to Blackburn to feed their addictions.

PC Dave Pearson, Community Beat Manager for Peel and Barnfield, told an area council meeting he had spoken to addicts who said they could no longer buy crack or heroin in the town, following a series of police swoops known as Operation Nimrod.

He urged residents to continue giving information to police to prevent new dealers taking the place of those who had been removed.

Operation Nimrod involved undercover police officers from other parts of the UK posing as drug users in Accrington.

It resulted in a series of dawn raids at homes across Accrington and Oswaldtwistle, which councillors and community activists were invited to witness from marked cars.

Fourteen arrests were made and drugs, cash and cars were seized by police.

PC Pearson told the Peel and Barnfield Area Council meeting that some of the intelligence leading to the raids had come from local residents and he explained that he had been unable to tell them at the time that an undercover operation was underway.

He added: "I have been speaking to known users and they have told me that you cannot get crack or heroin in Accrington at the moment, they are having to go to Blackburn for it.

"Please keep giving us information because there are street dealers who will try to step into their shoes and take on their role."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "This is extremely good news and I'm delighted to hear that people are unable to get these drugs in Accrington.

"There are many drug-related problems in the borough and this goes some way towards solving those problems."

Inspector Terry Woods, head of Accrington Police, said: "We have reliable information that drug supply in Accrington has been reduced to very minimal levels and users are having significant problems obtaining drugs.

"Part of the plan for Operation Nimrod included what happened after the raids, and we are keeping an eye on any information that comes in."

Lancashire Drugs Action Team has been doing extra work in the Hyndburn area to support former drug users in breaking their habits.